Students cultivate notoriety at Youth in Government conference
The COVID-19 quarantine forced the Youth In Government conference, sponsored by the YMCA of Middle Tennessee’s Center for Civic Engagement, into a virtual format in 2020 and 2021. This year, the success of mitigating measures allowed the conference to return to downtown Nashville, and students from all over the state used the Capitol and adjacent state office buildings as the backdrop for their own hopes and dreams for the state of Tennessee. University School of Nashville students with wide ranges of experience stepped into leadership roles and gave observers hope for the future of the state.
By Mackey Luffman, High School History Teacher & Youth in Government Advisor
Traditionally, dozens of University School of Nashville High School students participate in the Youth in Government conference, a simulation of Tennessee's state government, each year. Students act as legislators, drafting, debating, and enacting legislation, or as lawyers, arguing appellate cases before the state Supreme Court. As usual, USN student leadership began with conference officers. Elected student officers facilitate debates and moderate various components in the conference, which gives them further leadership and engagement experiences.
Student officers from USN at this year’s YIG Supreme Court included Chief Justice Arnav Reddy '22, and Associate Justices Riya Narayan '23 & Kara Grace Hess '23.
Special thanks to Annual Fund Director Claudia Huskey for her work in facilitating our students’ success this year. Please congratulate these students on their achievements when you see them.
Back
Traditionally, dozens of University School of Nashville High School students participate in the Youth in Government conference, a simulation of Tennessee's state government, each year. Students act as legislators, drafting, debating, and enacting legislation, or as lawyers, arguing appellate cases before the state Supreme Court. As usual, USN student leadership began with conference officers. Elected student officers facilitate debates and moderate various components in the conference, which gives them further leadership and engagement experiences.
Student officers from USN at this year’s YIG Supreme Court included Chief Justice Arnav Reddy '22, and Associate Justices Riya Narayan '23 & Kara Grace Hess '23.
Such is the strength of the reputation of USN students that two of our seniors were recruited by the conference staff to fill officer vacancies in the legislature component. They both responded to the call for leadership, and Greta Li '22 served as the Lieutenant Governor of the Blue (Novice) Senate, while Tate Keuler '22 acted as the Chief Clerk of the White (Intermediate) House of Representatives.
In the Supreme Court component, all three justices shone from the bench as they grilled counselors arguing case law. Kara Grace was re-elected to be Associate Justice for YIG 2023, and Riya was elected to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court next year. Not to be outdone, Arnav won the Jenny Faenza Memorial Outstanding Justice Award for his leadership in the court component. He was selected for the Tennessee delegation to the Conference on National Affairs this summer also. In other words, Arnav was selected for this year’s YIG All-Star Team. It’s a great honor and carries forward the tradition established by a number of notable YIG alumni, including, most recently, Lydia West '21.
USN students shone through the occasionally murky atmosphere in the legislative chambers. In the Red (Senior) Senate, Noah Kim '23, Henry Stack '23, and Benny Yazdian '23 won an Outstanding Bill Award for their proposal to increase resources to combat heroin addiction and fentanyl overdoses. Henry was nominated for an Outstanding Statesperson award as well.
In the Red House of Representatives, Adeolu Ajayi '22 was nominated for an Outstanding Statesperson Award for his participation in the debate on legislations. In the White House of Representatives, Xavier Warren '24 won an Outstanding Statesperson Award. Meanwhile in the Blue Senate, Ophelia Cherry-Pulay '25 won an Outstanding Statesperson Award, and Caroline Keiper '25 was nominated.
Regardless of any awards they brought home, we should be proud of all of our USN delegates for their participation. The skills our students practice on a daily basis in the halls at USN come in very handy in the halls of power. If any alumni are worried about the legacy of USN at YIG after the pandemic, then be not afraid, the future is as bright as ever.
Special thanks to Annual Fund Director Claudia Huskey for her work in facilitating our students’ success this year. Please congratulate these students on their achievements when you see them.
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
-
Athletes beyond Edgehill
Read MoreIt is common to have five or more University School of Nashville student-athletes sign college athletic commitment letters each year. USN has 25 alumni participating in their chosen sport at the collegiate level from the Classes of 2021 through 2025. Continue reading to learn more about where Tigers are competing beyond Edgehill. -
Tech Bytes: Tips for summer
Middle School Educational Technologist Kari Luecke shares must-read articles and suggests options to declutter your smartphone and reduce screen time this summer.Read More -
6th graders head to capitol for spirited debate
Read MoreDuring a fun field trip to wrap up the year, students were able to debate on the House floor during a visit to the Tennessee State Capitol. See more photos from their final lesson here.
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.